Monday, March 26, 2007

I finished painting my last piece of bedroom furniture this weekend! I still need to get a couple more things for the room before I post some pictures. I can't believe the project is almost done. It's taken over a month of weekends but I'm really happy with it. Now that it's done, I'm thinking of my next big project. I bought a new sofa 2 years ago and it's a dark navy blue and now I want white slipcovers for it. I would like something that looks like this. I also want to make a slipcover for this chair. I've heard it's really expensive to have them custom made so I'm thinking about doing it myself. I took sewing classes every year in school from Jr. High through High School so I can sew a garment but not sure if I can make a slipcover for a sofa. I've seen this book, pictured above, and others but I would love to hear from someone that has actually made slipcovers before. My mom made some before I was born and she said it was easy but she's much better at sewing than I am. I would hate to spend my hard-earned money on fabric and have it end up in the garbage can! I haven't bought a book yet so if someone has a good recommendation, please let me know. Do you think I should attempt this?

15 comments:

I haven't made slipcovers yet, but I did google "free slipcover patterns" and found a lot of helpful articles (plus ads, of coruse). I read a blog called Turkey feathers (below is the link) and she finished a slipcover project in February arcives, so you could contact her. I'm waiting patiently for the photos of your bedroom! I know they will be fabulous!

Cindy, I love the look of that book. Have you checked out what they have at your library for making slipcovers? You can try it on the single chair first and I bet you will be thrilled with your effort! I would not suggest you go with a stripe or a plaid at first, as matching might be tricky!

That chair is darling!!!! I don't honestly think you have anything to lose by buying fabric and a pattern to slipcover it. Worse case scenario as I see it, is that you end up giving the chair and the fabric to a pro to finish it if you become over whelmed. Why not buy the pattern first? Read it and decide if you're up for it. (Or better still, stand in Wal-Mart's fabric section reading the pattern to be sure you want to buy it)I think you can do this!

I'm sewing my first slipcover right now (check out my february archive) and it is easier than I thought it would be. You can definitely do this if you have sewn a garment before. The best thing I did was buy muslin fabric to make my first pattern. I will sew it together and then take it apart and use it to cut the expensive fabric. I *highly* recommend doing this. I have the slipcover book you posted, but I have used the directions at this website http://www.europeantextiles.ca/Slipcover.pdf You should also check out this girl's blog about her slipcover project. http://slipcover.vrya.net/ I have been distracted with other projects, but I'm ready to baste my pieces together and finish up. Good luck with your project! Don't be scared . . . you can always throw muslin away. :-)

Cindy, good luck with this big project. I'm a seamstress but have not attempted any large slip covers - just an ottoman. Yes, making a muslin is the way to go prior to cutting your fabric. I had a professional (wonderful retired Italian seamstress who only charged $150- which was very well spent) make a quilted cotton and matelasse slipcover for my bedroom loveseat - she piped all the edges and that's a big job of its own! She is set up with professional machines to handle heavy duty fabric, and big cutting table etc. Her most important point to me - take the fabric to a laundry and have it washed and dried TWICE before cutting and sewing it. This way you can always wash the cover later without fear of shrinking. Mine comes out of my washer/drier perfectly............I love it so much and am considering having her do my sofa next.Perhaps try your chair first - the info. from other friends will be handy I know.

Cindy- I'm reading this with interest as I have a chair I really want to get a slipcover for. The cheapest I've found around here so far is $250. If I could find someone to do it for $150, I wouldn't even hesitate.

I didn't make them, but my mom did for me. I had an old club chair & ottoman that I wanted to change & I found some pretty inexpensive material. We took measurements of the arms, cushions, back, etc. & sort of broke it down in sections to get it right. She made a little template pattern & then started sewing it all up. She even put piping around the arms & ottoman. I have a pic of it somewhere that I could show you if you want. It turned out really nice & I am still using the chair in one of my guestrooms. My mom is a good seamstress, although she doesn't think she's that good. I'm always happy with what she turns out for me...she sewed almost all the window treatments in my house too. I don't think it's that hard...you just have to break it down in pieces and go from there. If you have sewed before, I think you can do it!

I have also been wanting to make a slipcover for our ugly old burgundy couch, but it is the piping that scares me off, but I have been looking and looking, and it is the piping that really makes a slipcover look great. So if you do it, I will do it too! Everyone here has such great ideas they are sharing, it is a real encouragement! I think that sweet little chair will look gorgeous all dressed in white with that beautiful gathered bottom.

Another suggestion I would add to what has been given is you could use old sheets to do a practice sew. I'd love a slipcover for my couch, but I'm too lazy and not brave enough to sew something that large. And I hate putting a zipper in anything. LOL

I just did two chairs ( actually still need to do last seam on the last slipcover. I would be happy to walk you through the process.. Pop over to my blog and scroll down a bit to see the chair.. very similar to your chair in size and style...

You can do it!I've made quite a few slipcovers for my sofas. The latest on you can see here: www.cultivatinghome.blogspot.comI was so desperate to cover the horrid fabric that I skipped time and left out piping. My trick is to drape the fabric over the sofar wrong side out, pin, cut away excess and continue to do this over each section of the couch and then sew together. Probably makes no sense, wish I lived close to show you. Anyway, love your blog! Good luck!Hannah

I spoke to a woman just this morning who makes slipcovers and does upholstery work. She charges 50.00 a yard (that is with YOUR fabric that YOU buy) for a slipcover. I think I heard it takes 5-7 yards of fabric to do a chair, so that would be 250-300 just for a chair. You are so creative and I think you could do this. Like Lallee said, practice with and old sheet. You could make your pattern pieces out of it, baste the seams and then rip out the seams if it fits. Just remember to add enough for the seam allowances.